Definition of: salmon

(sam′ən) noun
1. A clupeid fish (family Salmonidae, genus Salmo), especially S. salar of the North Atlantic, brownish above, silvery on the sides, with black spots. The salmon ascends to the headwaters of rivers to spawn, and surmounts obstructions, as waterfalls of considerable height. It is a highly prized game and food fish, and has delicate reddish-orange flesh.
2. One of other salmonoid fishes, especially the quinnat, ascending rivers flowing to the North Pacific.
3. A color of a reddish- or pinkish-orange tint: also salm′on-pink′.
—adjective Having the color salmon. [<AF samoun, saumoun, salmun <L salmo, -onis]